Honda VFR800 Review

Honda VFR800 Overview

The Honda VFR800 is an upgrade on the former VFR750 and is a fantastic all-rounder bike which receives plenty of praise from the biking community. It might be coming up to 20 years old but it is still a bike which can hold its own amongst the newer additions to the market and with the added benefit of the Honda name you know you are investing a bike which will be sturdily and solidly built, and designed to last for many years.

The V-four engine gives a smooth power delivery, even in low gear and although it isn’t as powerful as a dedicated sports bike, for an all-rounder it is pretty impressive. This is a bike which works well for commuting, taking out on the track or for a longer touring holiday. The riding position has been designed well and the seat is comfortable enough, for both primary rider and pillion. This is a middle-weight bike so does feel heavy when it isn’t running but once you have the bike warmed up the handling Is light and smooth with a low-centre of gravity which allows for riders to turn with ease.

Although it is a bike which can perform well alongside sports bikes it has also been designed to bear up well with extra weight making it a good choice if you like to mix things up and occasionally take your bike on a longer tour too. It is perhaps let down by its fuel economy which is surprising for a Honda bike as their bikes are generally designed to be as cheap and economic to ride as possible but with so many other benefits this does seem like a small price to pay.

Take a quick look at the Honda VFR800 in action…

Honda VFR800 Gallery

Owner Reviews

Nice position of all day touring although the seat gets a bit hard after 200 miles

Ride Quality

Build Quality & Reliability

It's a Honda

Engine Rating

V4 grunt all the way through the Rev range

Brake Rating

Bit dated now but it is 17 and it does still stop quick enough

Running Cost

Overall

Pros Comments

The VFR800 is a great allrounder, in fact it so good I won't buy a new one...

Cons Comments

Fuel economy

Submitted by:

Tony Fyson

Review Date: November 2016

Comfort

A very good sports tourer, let down by a hard seat

Ride Quality

Numb bum after 300 miles a day

Build Quality & Reliability

Am airhawk seat and Laminar Lip screen makes a marked improvement

Engine Rating

Checking and adjusting valves is very difficult.

Brake Rating

Handles well with two obese adults, overloaded panniers and a top box

Running Cost

Overall

Pros Comments

I would be hard pressed to find a better bike.

Cons Comments

More comfort

Submitted by:

Fleck

Review Date: March 2017

Comfort

Ride Quality

Build Quality & Reliability

Engine Rating

Brake Rating

Running Cost

Overall

Pros Comments

I have had my vfr for a long time now and I still get a buzz from riding it. Apart from routine maintenance I haven't had any repairs done so reliability is great. Smooth power delivery, comfortable on longer journeys. Also comfortable for a pillion.

Cons Comments

A bigger tank would be nice and slightly higher handlebars.

Submitted by:

David

Review Date: March 2017

Comfort

Ride Quality

Heavy in town

Build Quality & Reliability

Wash and it looks new again

Engine Rating

A good balance

Brake Rating

It's got linked brakes, why?

Running Cost

Overall

Pros Comments

For all the negative things I have listed I can't think of a bike I would swap it for

Cons Comments

Accesability to exhaust and all parts for servicing

Submitted by:

Tony

Review Date: March 2017

Comfort

a comfortable bike as capable as a long distance tourer as it is as a humble commuter

Ride Quality

rides very well, and being a middleweight is easy to handle allowing for fast, smooth progress to be maintained

Build Quality & Reliability

excellent build quality, Honda put a lot of effort and thought into the VFR

Engine Rating

obviously not as powerful as current sports bikes but certainly powerful enough for it's roll as a genuine all-rounder.

Brake Rating

linked brakes work very well

Running Cost

Overall

Pros Comments

Maybe needs a bit more of an 'edge' to it rather being pretty good at everything

Cons Comments

Maybe needs a bit more of an 'edge' to it rather being pretty good at everything

Submitted by:

David Lewis

Review Date: March 2017

Comfort

Very comfortable

Ride Quality

Little bit sluggish low in the revs, handles smooth and feels light

Build Quality & Reliability

Engine Rating

Bit gutless two up

Brake Rating

Running Cost

Overall

Pros Comments

Comfortable ride, gutless two up, stylish swingarm

Cons Comments

Better performance for two up touring

Submitted by:

Mark Catanach

Review Date: May 2017

Comfort

Very comfy. Good riding position. Even for someone with a bad back.

Ride Quality

It's not the lightest bike around. But it handles so well. Centre of gravity is low down so it rides the twisty roads very well. Acceleration is nice and smooth.

Build Quality & Reliability

Typical old school Honda build quality. The only thing I've had to replace is the Regulator/Rectifier. This is common and about the only thing that goes wrong on these bikes.

Engine Rating

Smooth power. Lovely V4 grunt. Loads of power throughout the range. Excellent to be able to pull out and overtake on motorways.

Brake Rating

Linked brakes work really well. Previously I've used mainly front brake. I use the rear a lot, as it's linked to front. This gives me much more confidence.

Running Cost

Overall

Pros Comments

For an 18 year old bike, it can still stay with the newer bikes when out for a ride. It still looks good all these years later. There's a big following for these as well. Secondhand part are freely available and cheap as well. The VFR800 is the perfect all rounder. Bags of power, great looks, easy to ride, perfect on the twisty roads, perfect to for touring, amazing sound from the V4 engine. When fully loaded with luggage it still rides brilliantly. The rear view mirrors actually do what they are designed to do! Yes, I can see perfectly behind me!

Cons Comments

Maybe a thicker foam on the seat as I can get a bit of a numb arse when on long rides.

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